Hamilton Tartan & Clan

Taking the name of a town in England, a Norman named Walter Fitz-Gilbert of Hambledon, moved to Renfrewshire. He is first mentioned in a 1294 charter given to Paisley monastery giving the privilege of fishing for herring in the Clyde, to which he is a witness. Later, during the Wars of Independence, Fitz-Gilbert was governor of Bothwell Castle on behalf of the English, but he came across to Bruce’s side and was rewarded with a portion of confiscated Comyn lands.

Hamilton Palace was the Historic seat of the clan and was built in 1695 by the 3rd Duke of Hamilton. This was proudly known as the largest non-royal residence in Europe. The palace encountered excessive subsidence due to the families mines which unfortunately led to it's demolition in 1921. Today the family live in Lennoxlove House in East Lothian.